Music-News: I read that you opened for B.B. King at the age of 17. How did encountering someone of that stature, a Blues legend and one of the great guitarists of all time, affect you as a musician or your career?
Caroline Smith: It gave me my first taste of what it is to be a gracious musician, no matter how old you are, how famous, how legendary. He came up to me, shook my hand, talked to me, asked me questions, and invited me on stage with him. He treated me with respect and was so gracious - that's something I never want to forget or lose in myself: to be able to treat my piers with absolute respect and grace.
M-N.com: I also read you opened for Mason Jennings (who has played Hyde Park with labelmate Jack Johnson) at an early age too. Did that experience alter your artistic development in any way? Is he an influence lyrically or musically?
CS: Not an influence. But he impacted me the same way BB King did. He hung out with me, gave me advice, took time out of his evening to talk to me. I was a little older then and he made me a little more nervous as one of my contemporaries, but he was equally as kind and gracious. He's a really kind man.
M-N.com: So this was your first time playing SXSW. What was the experience like?
CS: I had been to SXSW before and to be honest, I was not excited to go back to play shows, though I knew it was going to happen. I wasn't looking forward to the hustle and the confusion, as I can be kind of a type A personality. The stress kind of gets to me, but it was really cool seeing my friends play.
M-N.com: Who are some of those friends?
CS: Christy Hunt from Von Bondies, who I have worked with for years in Minneapolis. Dark Dark Dark, who have played in the U.K. a decent amount. Also, my friend Channy Moon Cassell from Gayngs. My fellow ladies give me support to keep going, because they look so good doing what they do.
M-N.com: So you had been to SXSW in the past. What were some of the concert highlights? Any wild stories?
CS: (laughs) There are a few wild stories actually. Well first, I saw some great bands there in 2009. This Swedish act called Loney, Dear that had unforgettable melodies. A Norwegian act called Casiokids put on a really fun live show, as did this Brazilian group called Garotas Suecas. I also saw some great comedians like Margaret Cho, Hannibal Buress, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Showalter.
MN.com: What about that crazy story?
CS: Oh, right. I ended up backstage somehow at the Perez Hilton show, which was really good that year. I saw Solange Knowles, this cool Salt-n-Pepa style act called Rye Rye (who are on MIA’s label, N.E.E.T. Recordings). Who else… Ladyhawke! Who I hung out with backstage. Ladyhawke’s band tried teaching me cockney, and then had me do a TV interview with them in a fake accent! I also got to speak with the headliner, Yelle, in French, which is a cool memory. Then Kanye showed up, and was standing within 5 feet of me, and I completely forgot how to speak the English language, let alone foreign ones. I got a few great Polaroid photos with him.
M-N.com: What do you have coming up as far as touring and content releases?
CS: We’re releasing the new record in August. It’s called Little Wind. We're really excited because we believe it showcases the maturity that is manifest in our songwriting and structuring. We keep working and learning and so we're very excited to record the next record. So stay tuned!
You can stay tuned with Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps alongside their 2000+ Facebook fans at http://www.facebook.com/goodnightsleeps
You can check out the band’s first album on iTunes here:
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/artist/caroline-smith-and-the-good/id288581651
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